Unknown by Unknown

whirled from one pair of arms to the next. She did, however, notice that Catrin was claimed several times by Rex Fitzpaine, laughing up into his face as if they shared a secret joke.
    He had made no effort to approach Davina for a dance and after his consideration in taking her for an outing this very afternoon, she was puzzled by his aloofness. She was on the floor for the second time with her cousin James when he suddenly said, 'I'm hungry. Have you had supper yet?’ and as Davina shook her head he went on, ‘Let’s have it now, then. The first rush on the buffet should be over. It was packed when I tried to get a glass of champagne for Miranda half an hour ago.'
    ‘Doesn’t she look stunning!’ Davina asked as James danced towards the door. ‘That Thai silk dress looks simply gorgeous with Miranda’s red-gold hair and must have cost a bomb. I bet it’s an Italian model.’
    ‘I wish her disposition was as gorgeous as her appearance,’ James replied gloomily. ‘Mirry did nothing but complain when I had a dance with her. Something’s rubbed her up the wrong way, that’s for sure.’
    Davina could have given an educated guess as to what that ‘something’ was—Miranda’s lack of success with the tall stranger from Australia. She kept discreetly silent, however, as James danced her to the door and then took her hand to lead her in the direction of the buffet room.
    They were about to pass the closed door of the library when James pulled his cousin to a halt as Miranda’s high-pitched voice came clearly to their ears. Davina and James exchanged dismal glances as they recognised that a full-scale quarrel was in progress and that Miranda obviously did not care if the whole house heard her accusations.
    In seconds they were inside the room. Miranda, her face unbecomingly flushed with anger, was confronting a whitefaced Catrin almost spitting with rage as she accused the younger girl of ‘... making a spectacle of yourself and embarrassing Grandmother by monopolising one of her guests. Not that Rex isn’t embarrassed too. How can he ask anyone else to dance with you hanging round his neck all evening?’ Miranda ended venomously.
    Davina was about to spring to Catrin’s defence when Paul Brehm strolled through the open French window. ‘The way you’re shouting, my dear Miranda, they must be able to hear your spiteful accusations as far away as Lucerne,’ he drawled. ‘What a dreadful bore you’re becoming. But this is one evening when your tantrums are not going to spoil everyone’s fun. You’re coming with me and for the rest of Gran’s party you’re going to smile and behave yourself so she doesn’t guess what a selfish little beast you really are,’ and before Miranda could recover from her astonishment, Paul had possessed himself of her hand and had forcibly marched her through the French window into the gardens beyond.
    As their footsteps faded, the three in the library could hear Miranda’s agitated protests, but they too soon faded away as Paul hustled her away from the house. James chuckled as he walked forward to put his arms round Catrin. ‘Good old Paul 1 Don’t worry, he’ll settle her. Now come on, Cat, no tears. It’s all over. How about slipping upstairs to powder your nose or whatever you girls do, then come and have some champagne with us. I’ll try and snaffle a whole bottle, so don’t be long.’
    Catrin gave him a watery smile and gulped down a sob. ‘Thanks, James. Miranda can really hit below the belt when she sets her mind to it. I was dreading Gran or Mother hearing the row. Give me five minutes. I’ll slip up the back stairs and fix my face,’ and Catrin dived through the door with the words.
    Davina gave a long sigh of relief. ‘What an escape! I can’t thank Paul, but I can thank you,’ and she reached up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. James, however, took her by her bare shoulders and smiled down into her eyes.
    ‘It was Paul who broke up Miranda’s little